In the moments we are alone, we are delusional and dead. Everything becomes separate and nothing flows in unison – we are no longer in touch with the miracle known as life. Then how do we flee such delusion and come back to the plane of content where only One abides? Mindfulness.
Let the breeze be God’s subtle whisper, the rain His cooling touch, the stars His infinite eyes, the sun His glowing truth, the stillness His silent presence, and the people an extension of Godliness. Nowhere can we evade the loving warmth and compassion of the true Lord. How can we ever be alone, especially when God resides within every universe, galaxy, planet, living creature, cell, and atom. God is energy and everything within and out of it. Proven by science – energy can never be created nor destroyed. Energy can never be born nor can it die. Energy is what gives all matter form and vibration. Science has shed light on some of the mystery, but has failed to even come close to God’s limitless grace. Man will never be able to comprehend such an omnipotent power.
Judgment from past conditioning has colored the lens through which we perceive the world. Our innocence and purity has slowly eroded through the corruption of thought. Wrongful thoughts and desires born from rage, ego, greed, lust, and attachment have distanced the pure soul from all perception.
We have neglected the God within for the illusive desires without. Hence, we have robbed ourselves of content and peace by neglecting the beautiful sea of Godliness that flows within our very own soul. We have been imprisoned by our five senses, captives to nothing more than an illusion that is temporary and fleeting. Whatever has come to be, has morphed and recycled into the Earth and greater universe. Why then is man running away from the bright truth by seeking dark shadows under the thorny rose-bush. He will surely be met by ignorance, pain, and suffering for the rose can only provide so much pleasure.
There is sunshine and light everywhere within God’s infinite kingdom, yet we have chosen the path of pain and suffering in the darkness. We were not born in this darkness, but for some reason we have chosen to seek it.
Being mindful of the present moment allows one to put aside previous man-made conceptions of what is. One becomes content with the present no matter what it may hold. Nonjudgmental of the moment, we do not seek pleasure or pain, but only oneness which brings content. Time recedes, space becomes trivial, and desires begin to shrivel in the face of an eternal and immortal moment. Even death runs away. Epicurus once said, “Death is nothing to us, since when we are, death has not come, and when death has come, we are not”
Nothing that happens in this life could have been diverted nor is it baseless. Everything that transpires, happens in the realm of God so it cannot be evil, malicious, or cruel. These negatives have only been created in the mind, because the mind is fueled by duality and confusion. A mind that is lost sees only duality, because duality breeds our desire for pain and pleasure, fun and boredom, anger and peace, and birth and death. When we eliminate the duality and the desire for something that is not, we find content.
Whatever is happening should be happening and is happening under the will of the Supreme Lord. We may not understand this with the five senses given to us for we are nothing more than a trillionth part of a dust molecule in the grand scheme of the infinite. However, when we do understand and contemplate that all is immortal and eternal with God within all – we really begin to live and grow as spiritual beings having a human experience.
Only in this moment will you find what you have been looking for your whole life. In the death of desire and fantasy, truth is born and God is revealed. God has provided for all eternity, and His presence has been still.
Who I am will always be.
My surface – waves of thought,
hardly reflecting the core of eternal peace beneath.
I am willing to experience
the blood, grief, desolation, humiliation…
the joy, acceptance, respect, honor, and dignity
of living in a temporary human capsule.
I have been endowed a vessel in which to navigate.
A captain of my own sail.
Winds of thoughts guide my trail,
They soar from foreign lands.
There presence not chaotic but rather conscious.
They breathe with a vibrancy of unity and purpose,
warmly embracing the vessel yet touching the soul.
Different drifts, none right or wrong, conflict.
Resulting ripples interfere in violent waves stalling direction,
Only the most persistent current catches sail.
This captain is not alone for he is part
of the wind, boat, sail, and sea.
The treacherous voyage spans vast distances.
The direction may be up to the captain, but the seas?
Only in the hands of the divine.
A universal folding of dimensions dictate reality,
none is true yet none is false for all simply is.
The journey is long and pointless when the captain sees separation.
When he feels alone and believes in corruption,
He stops feeling the wind as his own and the boat as a physical extension of his
soul.
He becomes blind to the consciousness which unites all as one.
He may awake from this reverie to find himself sinking,
and the waters boiling with rage.
However, the surface of attachment is weak.
Consciousness shall return him,
when he is ripe to learn and reflect the true nature of the journey.
We don’t sail to arrive; we sail to unite.
We don’t need to look for distant shores,
for they will pull us further seaward.
Pure thoughts set sails toward contentment and fulfillment.
When the ship shall eventually sink to the sea, the soul shall merge,
Into the infinite and peaceful core of the True self.
All will recycle and revive the conscious breath of a cosmic existence,
unknown to a three-pound brain with limited senses.
I am a man whose sails will drift in the direction of
honesty, loyalty, friendship, compassion, love, and unity
respect, honor, humility, purity, and content.
I shall sink with my captain, boat, and air from the winds
in my lungs propelling me into another transition -
Neither more true nor explainable.
To fancy the core of the ocean in stillness is wisdom.
I will have to shift my sails to change my course.
Unfolding a destiny toward a deeper understanding of one and less self.
I am going to feel the wind on my skin,
The sun in my eyes,
and the joy of the crew.
I will listen of their tales to expand the consciousness that guides me,
I will see everything as a symbol of growth and genesis rather than object.
Everything in an infinite motion of potential vibration.
My frequency will merge to that of the contained consciousness within all matter.
I will unite with the wind to elevate my sails from the sea to the sky.
Within me is the whole – uninterrupted and tuned to the universe.
The static is caused by my ignorance to acknowledge -
immortality through the present moment.
How immortal are the moments captured in fullness,
without judgment as they should be.
A grand secret of the universe is revealed through its unfolding in the physical realm
for physical happenings are only representatives of thought vibration.
One must realign the antennas toward a greater frequency of love and oneness to fully feel the vibration of God in all.
I am in gratitude to this life and all it shall bring,
Through the realization of God who abides within all energy.
A soup of potential energy so grand that it gives power to the greatest engines of insight.
Enliven your dreams and see them become a vision of fruition.
I love everyone no matter the pain.
I judge nothing or no one.
I have no opinion for I am what is and nothing more.
I can react to any situation with awareness.
Nothing disrupts or distracts the core of our being.
IT is the consciousness of the wind, water, and fire
Energy through movement and life is just an expression of God’s lever pulling consciousness like a string through beats of expansion and compression.
Nothing here is permanent so why take it seriously.
Hate nothing more than that of self loathing,
Strangle hate with love.
Strangle all emotions by bringing awareness to their rise.
Emotions are nothing more than chemical addictions,
You tell your body what to do through faith in God which controls the universal laws of acceptance.
Be here forever and forget about the worries that plague you.
God will sustain if you do your best in the moment to embody life through your action.
Fight your cells, emotions, and neurotransmitters. No one can stop the illusion or reaction but you with the grace or kirpa of God.
Seek stillness within and see God everywhere without
Nothing is different at the core of God’s quantum illusion of life.
The future is an unforeseen stirring pot of potential. Everything we do in the present affects the outcome of the future in major and minor ways. We often brush aside the impact we make in our own lives as well as the impact we make on those around us. All too often we believe that we are powerless both within and without.
Liberating the soul from the haze of corrupted habitual behavior is vital to manifesting a positive future. For centuries, men and women have knelt at the sacred altar of religion for inspiration and guidance. Spirituality was born not only in the fear of mortal death, but for reasons much more important. Religion provided a means for humans to build a belief that was unwavering to guide the mind down the right path without doubt. A belief that was so concentrated on the divine that anything became possible and everything a possibility. It gave hope and faith to men who could not run from duality and doubt.
Every living soul is draped in bone, flesh, and skin which binds us to the physical realm of the five senses. All that exists within our dimension is experienced through the senses, and filtered through a powerful three pound machine called the brain. Electrical signals rivaling those on a stormy night ignite by the billions in the brain sending impulses through the body. Essentially humans are bound not only by the physical but also by chemicals known as neurotransmitters that correspond to emotion, feeling, and thought.
I was talking to a friend once about the elusive state of happiness, and the misconceived notion that its attainment is a spiritual goal. He looked at me with empathy, and said that the whole purpose of spirituality and life was to attain happiness amidst any condition. I smiled. However, lets stop and analyze this for a moment. Happiness is born in the chemical state of the mind just as any other chemical emotion distributed by the human brain in response to stimulus. Hence, a man who has come to know his eternal soul knows the worth of emotion in a physical setting bound by time and space. Without the body, emotions wither but the soul does not. Thus emotions are temporary just as the template of the body. No emotion is eternal yet all are forever fleeting past the mind in waves of chaos.
Happiness will always have an opposite counter – sorrow. Neither can survive without the need for the dual state of the other. Just as good is counteracted by evil, so every emotion has a dual nature. Such as a coin, there are always two sides. Eliminating the coin of duality enables the human spirit to vibrate at the frequency of the eternal. That is the real goal.
We are just habitual addicts of the chemicals our mind releases, and we attach the ego to make them that much more powerful and consuming.
We plan for those special events by counting down the days as they inch closer to fruition. We obsess about them in dreams and idle reveries during routine duties. We contemplate the potential pleasure or fear that will result from events yet brought forth into reality. The name has come to be known as fantasy; a fanciful mental image, typically one on which a person dwells at length or repeatedly and which reflects their conscious or unconscious wishes. Although we are watching the mental film, we did not pay for its exhibit or wait in line for its viewing. We merely created the screen, the theater, the audience, the emotions, the actors, and the plot. Essentially we created a parallel universe of reality which exists beyond the parameters of time and space.
How can we question the powers of the human mind when we stop to contemplate its daily dwindlings. These fantasies, reveries, day dreams, and mental films are miracles endowed by universal consciousness. These thoughts not only dictate our actions, but who we are as human beings. Without spiritual support we lose our connection with the pure and crystalline nature of Godliness while falling into the murky depths of flailing thoughts and frivolous desires. We tend to lose our purpose and just float through life without a deeper seeded sense of Being. Essentially, we melt into the nurturing soil of the Earth as toxic waste disrupting the cycle of life.
We run in countless spinning circles. Living for money, loving for company, performing for a raise, stealing for an opportunity, and dying for approval. We are hungry to fill an ever deepening void. We seem to be what Charles Darwin warned us to be – just highly evolved animals from lowly origins. Animals who wear suites to impress and drive Bentleys so others can obsess, but then we turn and defend our share by reassuring ourselves that people are merely envious by nature, but we fail to see our own selfish intention. I am guilty of such illusions, but I fear they are imprinted on my inherited genetics.
I am a hamster in someone’s cage, and to preoccupy myself I run in circles everyday. I’m not going to lie, I believe I’m getting ahead. This may sound crazy coming from a hamster, but I am arrogant as well. I am going somewhere far with a worthy cause. I do understand that this is a small cage with no escape, but I continue to run and collect “respect” on my wheel.
Its commonsense that nothing shall go when my time is up, but what is the use to sit and sulk so I continue to run on my wheel. As I run in circles, I forget about the cage and my looming predicament. My imagination comes alive and in some distant world, I have respect and wealth. Some “spiritual” hamsters call my dreams Maya, but it’s my only escape from this cage, so I continue to run after fame. Somehow I believe when I get there everything will be okay, but then I recall spinning on a wheel in place.
Running is draining and I know it will soon end, but whats the hurry to get ahead. I begin to slow down, and then I remember my situation at hand. I am a prisoner bound by evolution to a screwed up system. Although I understand that there will never be an end, I find satisfaction in running ahead. My dreams are back.
As humans bound to this dimension of reality, we must understand that the daily duties we perform are done to preoccupy our minds and quinch our thirst for the time being. The endless running and dying for wealth, fortune, and fame is not an option for alternatives are not offered in a cage. We are but hamsters fed to entertain.
I no longer recognize the young man who wrote this blog or who he exactly was. Just as quickly as he arrived, he has disappeared far from my life. That idealistic writer was willing to expose powerful thoughts that empowered his mind. Fearlessly, he wrestled with concepts far beyond his reach and understanding. He was desperately seeking the shores of peace and calm. Surrendering to the will of God; he died and left me.
At times, I feel as if I no longer have the ability to care anymore. I yearn to merely exist as an invisible entity freely coming and going as I please. No attachment to the world I see around me, I feel as though there is no more. No reason to strive, no need for wealth, no need to impress, no need to struggle, no need to understand. Perhaps we are over-thinking, over-analyzing, and over-playing our minute roles on this Earth. I am changing and in this moment I cannot help but feel disregard.
Summer has come to California, but this time it brings a chilly warmth of regret. I could have done so much. I should have helped around the house, swam, exercised, took out the dogs, done some community service, written, read, been productive, practiced improvement, ironed out my character, meditated, learned Gurmukhi. However, I have chosen to allow decay to take hold of my day. The television has become my outlet to drain the energy out of my mind, and the midday nap has become my drug of choice to escape reality. Running from life, I have realized that I have sold myself nothing but waste.
My blog must come back to life for I have hope that this may be the only way to rekindle the spirit within me that inspired so many to read what I have written. I never fully understood how much change occurs in so little time until I read a few articles from my blog that I hardly recognized as my own. I will continue to write although this time around it may be more real and less what some may want to hear. I am beginning to doubt and question many things that once stood tall and clear. I will be raising those issues and more as my mind progresses or in some cases digresses.
Sometimes it is not what you expect to become, but who you were destined to be.
I leave my body as the kirtan reaches my ears and rushes through my veins. The human in me dies every time I listen to a verse from the Guru Granth Sahib, and for that moment I dissolve into the infinite. Nothing matters, I am free and unbound by the fake facade of maya, the materialism, around me. The presence of an infinite creator overcomes my consciousness and I merge with content. My soul reaches a state of equilibrium and for that moment, there is no need to strive for anything else. All hunger dies. I listen with my ears not to mere words, but sacred truths revealed through the vibration of cosmic love. There is no language that can translate the ecstasy which overcomes my being. I am a Sikh, a learner, of the true source of creation, God.
I believe in the hukam, will, of Waheguru and pray for His grace and mercy in the lives of all. I am not perfect, but I strive to be a more understanding and compassionate soul. I try to listen and recite the Japji Sahib, Rehiras Sahib, and Kirtan Sohila daily. I understand the importance of implementing the teachings transcribed in the Guru Granth Sahib into my everyday life. I try to gain more knowledge regarding Sikhism by referencing Sikh history, movies, documentaries, and books. I listen to Katha from great Sikhs like Sant Giani Maskeen Ji for inspiration and understanding. I do not intoxicate myself with alcohol or drugs of any kind, and I am a student in medical school with an intent to help others in their time of need. However, some may say that I am not a true Sikh. I have short hair and a trimmed beard. I am not Amritari.
We went to dinner at Uptej’s dorm suite today, and we were joined by another Sikh medical school student, Bhavneet. Uptej is an Amritari Sikh woman who keeps her hair neatly wrapped in a dastaar. Bhavneet also keeps her hair covered and has been waiting to take Amrit for many years now, because she believes it is the most important part of Sikh Rehat, discipline. However, she went a little further saying that only an Amritari Sikh could claim Sikhism their path, because without Amrit a follower is not a true Sikh. However, the Gurus believed that all are created equal and that there is no such thing as a Sikh, Muslim, Hindu, Christian, or Jew because all life is One. Many Hindus and Muslim saints are also included in the compilation of the Guru Granth Sahib further illustrating that all humanity is one regardless of race, religion, caste, or creed. We all come from one divine light.
Sikhism is based upon the universal oneness of the universe and its creator, God, who is infinite and without form. No mortal has the tongue nor the ability to fully describe the intensity of God’s power, benevolence, and beauty within every single atom of the universe in which His grace resides.
Avil Alh nUru aupwieAw, kudriq ky sB bMdy ]
“First God created the Light; by His power he created all people equal.”
eyk nUr qy sBu jgu aupijAw, kaun Bly ko mMdy ]1]
From One Light came the entire universe. So who is good, and who is bad? ||1||
“Creation in Creator, and Creator in Creation, Totally filled in all places. ||1||Pause||”
mwtI eyk Anyk BWiq kir swjI swjnhwrY ]
“The clay is the same, but various ways by the Fashioner.”
nw kCu poc mwtI ky BWfy nw kCu poc kuMBwrY ]2]
“Nothing is wrong with the pot of clay – nothing is wrong with the Potter. ||2||”
sB mih scw eyko soeI iqs kw kIAw sBu kCu hoeI ]
“The One True Lord abides in all; by His making, everything is made.”
hukmu pCwnY su eyko jwnY bMdw khIAY soeI ]3]
“Whoever realizes the Hukam of His Command, knows the One Lord. He alone is said to be the Lord’s slave. ||3||”
Alhu AlKu n jweI liKAw guir guVu dInw mITw ]
“God is unseen; He cannot be seen. The Guru has blessed me with this sweet molasses.
kih kbIr myrI sMkw nwsI srb inrMjnu fITw ]4]3]
“Says Kabeer, my anxiety and fear have been taken away; I see the Immaculate Lord pervading everywhere. ||4||3||”
I understand the importance of the Sikh Rehat of Guru Gobhind Singh Ji and the vital attributes of the Khalsa brotherhood. The Khalsa kept Sikhism strong through the Mughal raj when there was a small bounty for the head of a Sikh. The sacrifice of Guru Gobhind Singh Ji’s sons who would rather die than lose their faith and convert to Islam at such young ages. Sikhism has sacrificed thousands upon thousands of lives for justice, freedom, tolerance, and understanding of God. I cannot even begin listing all the sacrifices in Sikhi. Baba Deep Singh once said, ”Sir jaave ta jaave, mera Sikhi sidhak na jaave” (If my head is severed, let it be, but don’t severe my Sikh way of life). These sacrifices cannot be forgotten for the love of God was so strong in these souls.
During the volatile contextual history of Guru Gobhind Singh Ji, it was highly important to distinguish a Sikh from a Muslim or Hindu. If the religion and the message of Sikhism were to survive, a new identity of fearless warriors was to be created known as the Khalsa. However, in a new world of globalization and cubicles that identity is becoming harder to keep especially in Western countries. One must make a harsh decision now, either live and assimilate in the West or keep the roots of the Khalsa and its bana with prejudice. Does Sikhism reside so much in the look or is it more concentrated in the heart and faith of the mind? I personally know the attachment I have to Sikhism in my heart and the relationship that I hold with Waheguru in high regards. There is a very powerful and intrinsic love I have for my people, religion, and faith. If the time ever came to shed my life for a greater cause, I can most certainly say that Sikhi would be the infinite force behind my passion for justice and truth. No matter if I do not have a pugh or a long beard, in my soul I am a Sikh of the Gurus. I know my relationship, what is yours?
Many Sikh youth question the religion they have inherited, and see it as beautiful but too restrictive. Too many black and white rules, rehats, guidelines, and strict regulations. The passion dies inbetween the thirst for God and the rules and regulations laid by panthic associations such as the SGPC. The relationship between a human soul and God is an extremely personal and inner one, because God is indeed within all creation. We are apart of His divine glory, so who can tell us that this is the way and that is not. The Gurus understood the unbiased lens of spirituality and thus expelled all notions of this way and not that. We are a people lost in a world of trial, and God is the only hand that can guide us but is everypresent if we just take the time to look. I am not going to let society, organized associations, or any giani tell me that my Sikhi does not follow the rehat when indeed my love is only growing for Waheguru everytime I utter His praise or contemplate His glory. No one can take my faith from me, so I follow the path of the Gurus who understood my desperation to surrender. Everysingle atom is Khalsa by birth, and so everyone is joined by a brotherhood blanketing all creation. A Sikh is one who is supposed to understand when he recites, “Nah Koi Bari na he Beganna,” (There is no stranger or enemy).
Guru Nanak believed, “Truth is High, Higher Still is Truthful Living”. In the Japji Sahib, Guru Nanak says that God only understands the language of love and that comes from the heart with true devotion. We must not branch, divide, and corrode the message of compassion in the Guru Granth Sahib but instead we must unite and accept with love all who walk the path of the Guru and those who do not. Sikhism has many enemies like the RSS, and many fear that a more liberal perspective of Sikhism will create dangerous Hindu influences, but we must not forget that the journey to God is a personal voyage and not a political one. In terms of spirituality and personal growth, we must stand united as a sangat to different views and accept the appeal of the Gurus who opened the door to oneness without a need for rituals, superstitions, castes, creeds, and such. They understood Waheguru’s depth so they were open-minded for they comprehended the vastness of His creation.
Every human reaps what he sows within the reason and will of Waheguru’s will. Those who do good will be taken care of in this life and that after, no matter if the person is a Sikh, Muslim, Christian, or Jew. All men are created one and all the labels that have been created just build more walls hindering the light of divine’s present within the heart and mind. We must learn to see the stars we lay under as everyone’s all the same. I make it a spiritual practice to respect every soul no matter the view or the ideals. Within all resides His creation, so who am I to judge.
Sikhism should no longer be exclusive but rather all inclusive as it was meant to be. Maryada is a must, but tolerance which preaches righteousness and truthful living is more important. Let people follow the path as they will without judgement, lest you be judged by your own actions. Lets stop dividing and instead begin uniting as humanity with justice, valor, integrity, courage, and love within our hearts.
What do you think? Who gets to be a Sikh? What if someone is not ready for Amrit? Many shaheeds during 1984 came from the West with cut hair and died in the fields of Punjab for justice, were they any less brave or Sikh? Will loosening the definition of a Sikh make Sikhism weaker as a panth? How do you see the future of Sikhism? How do we prevent secluding Sikhs without kesh by current Sikh definitions?
I believe these questions must be answered in a changing world desperately in need for the words of the Guru Granth Sahib appealing to a universal truth. Ek Oankar, God is One.
“People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered; forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies; succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you; be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight; create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous; be happy anyway.
The good you do today will often be forgotten; do good anyway
Give the best you have, and it may never be enough; give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God; it was never between you and them anyway.”
~ Mother Teresa
My older sister read me this quote by Mother Teresa a few days back, and I was just thinking about it this morning. If there is any purpose in life worthy of living, it is to live a life as prescribed above. Every action a reflection of compassion formulated through forgiveness. All religions preach the same message and all purposes lead down this path of humility. What others think is important to society, but what we do when no one is watching is what makes the greatest difference between oneself and God. The thoughts, actions, motives, and desires which may be hidden from you or me, are very real and visible to the One who has created all. Without trust in ourselves, there is no need to look for success for even amidst mounds of wealth, sorrow and insecurity will devour one’s mind.
George Clason published, The Richest Man in Babylon, in 1926 to enlighten Americans with telling parables from the ancient city of Babylon. Surprisingly, the basic principles of gaining and maintaing wealth are the same today as they were in the lustrous city of Babylon many centuries ago before the birth of Christ. The acquisition of gold has tantalized man since the beginning of civilization for it has brought respect, honor, pleasure, safety, and security to many who have sought it. Even today, everyone must work to make a living. Each individual makes his share to spend, save, or invest. Making money is a means to survive in society, and it has been such since the beginning of cooperative society. Work is symbolized with the $ symbol, whether we like it or not.
In the book, Arkad, the richest man in babylon, explains his desire for wealth:
“In my youth I looked about me and saw all the good things there were to bring happiness and contentment. And I realized that wealth increased the potency of all these. Wealth is a power. With wealth many things are possible. One may ornament the home with the richest of furnishings. One may sail the distant seas. One may feast on the delicacies of far lands. One may even build mighty temples for the Gods.
And, when I realized all this, I decided to myself that I would claim my share of the good things of life. I would not be one of those who stand from afar off, and enviously watching others enjoy. I would not be content to clothe myself in the cheapest raiment that looked respectable. I would be satisfied with the lot of a poor man. On the contrary, I would make myself a guest at the banquet of good things.”
If we all must work to make a living, why not work hard and smart. There is nothing wrong with hard work where the fruit of our labor is wealth. Arkad makes a great point by saying that he would not settle for less than what he was capable of. Every human being is capable and has the potential to do many great things with the infinite energy of passion, desire, and purpose. Money is an ends to a mean which makes life easier to lead without the clout of living bill to bill.
As being a Sikh, I am taught from religion and commonsense that money will not bring eternal satisfaction, contentment, happiness, or peace. It is but a trap of falsehood in the overall illusion of Maya, and I do agree with this point. However, Guru Nanak strongly believed that a spiritual life should not be led in isolation. It is important for a person to raise and care for family while working for an honest and truthful living. Hard work has never be denied nor looked down upon in Sikhism as long as the individual remains free of greed, attachment, or ego. Humility is the main ingredient to success in all aspects of life.
Socially, culturally, and mentally money plays a large role in the ease of life. It does not make life free of struggle, but a surplus of money makes it more bearable; many doors and opportunities swing open to the whims of wealth. Hence, it is in the interest of wise men to learn the fundamental laws of gold. Those who receive money without guidance or wisdom lose it quickly, because the source is not renewing. Wealth comes from an ongoing stream of funds from income, investment, and interest.
Arkad had five vital gold (wealth) laws :
The First Law of Gold – Gold cometh gladly and in increasing quantity to any man who will save not less than one-tenth of his earnings to create an estate for his future and that of his family.
( One tenth or more of one’s income should be set aside for investment. A budget should be instated to constantly keep one dollar out of every ten for investments to ensure future security and wealth. It is extremely important to skip out on some of life’s appealing lures, in order to ensure a future of wealth gain. Discipline is the difference between a fat purse or a lean one.)
The Second Law of Gold - Gold laboreth diligently and contentedly for the wise owner who finds for it profitable employment, multiplying even as the flocks of the field.
(The money saved must be working for you. It must become your working slave through investment. The principle will begin to multiply in sound investments giving rise to new generations of wealth who will also work with you to make more. Do not divert this wealth for spending until the money has become an army working for you. Each dollar created is one more dollar working to create more through effective measures. The stream must be large and fast enough to feed itself.)
The Third Law of Gold – Gold clingeth to the protection of the cautious owner who invests it under the advice of men wise in its handling.
(Invest with the advice of those who are successful and honorable. Trust is a shaky word, but let their checkbook do the talking for the man. An experienced man in any field will be the one to seek during times of investment. His advice is free and worth much money and future safety.)
The Fourth Law of Gold - Gold slippeth away from the man who invests it in bussinesses or purposes with which he is not familiar or which are not approved by those skilled in its keep.
(Do not invest in some area where you have no experience or prior knowledge, because loss will be your lesson. Stick with what you have learned and studied through experience. A man who studies the body for ten years, a doctor, should not invest blindly into making a new restaurant chain unless he is also a chief.)
The Fifth Law of Gold - Gold flees the man who would force it to impossible earnings or who followeth the alluring advice of tricksters and schemers who trust it to his own inexperience and romantic desires in investment.
(Amazing returns and unbelievable profits are fit for disaster. Something that sounds to good to be true is probably just that too good to be true. Let the Madoff scandal during this year be a reminder not to fall for the stairs. Be safe and keep your money bound to consistency and security. Safer margins for growth are much healthier in the long run than blind faith in huge profits. Huge risk = HUGE LOSS or miraculous luck.)
Be smart with money, and let it work for you. Patience is the key along with the right eye to see opportunity when it comes knocking on the door. If you save that one tenth you might just have the capital it takes to take advantage of the lifetime opportunity when it comes.
Let ninety percent of your income be the chips unto which to enjoy and cherish the goods of life, and let the remaining ten percent go to work for the future wealth for yourself and the family. Make yourself a guest to the grand banquet of life, and enjoy all their is to offer by playing smart and wise with wealth or else be left watching others enviously. For myself, I am not the type to watch.
The 3HO Sikhs have inspired me for countless years as a Punjabi Sikh in the United States; however, a simple google search opens the door for heated controversy and debate. Is 3HO a cult?
“The 3HO Foundation is a Global Community of people who practice and share the teachings of Yogi Bhajan so that they may serve, inspire, and empower humanity to be healthy, happy, and holy. 3HO’s Global Community is comprised of people who are dedicated to living a life that uplifts and inspires. Over the past 40 years, 3HO has become a vibrant, dynamic community of leaders, teachers, students, and seekers practicing the time-proven technology of Kundalini Yoga and Meditation as taught by Yogi Bhajan grounded and centered in a philosophy of compassion and kindness. People from all walks of life and on every continent share this technology and are experiencing their potential, realizing peace in their inner world, and participating in a healthful lifestyle.” [www.3HO.org]
I have been well aware of the 3HO organization for years, and I have been inspired by the lifestyle as well as the authenticity. Living in California and attending the annual Sikh parade in Los Angeles, I would see the grace of the 3Ho community serving side by side with native Sikhs and non Sikhs alike. Many men and women have joined the Khalsa brotherhood which abolishes all caste, creed, and economic class. In reality there is no Punjabi or 3HO Sikh, because Sikhism is an experience for humanity and in no way exclusive to any one group, race, or people. Sikhism carries a universal message of compassion, service, and selflessness.
Yoga is an intrinsic pillar in the lives of most 3HO Sikhs as taught by Yogi Bhajan decades ago in America. Kundalini Yoga is a powerful experience with chanting, stretching, and breathing exercises which serve to increase both energy and self-awareness. Many people find peace, relaxation, and profound changes within themselves after such revitalizing yoga. I have not had the chance to partake in Kundalini Yoga as of yet, but I am waiting to experience it for myself. Today many “Sikhs” are blind sighted by anything that seems to have any relevance with Hindu practices after years of turmoil in India; hence, many are skeptical of the merging of Sikhism with yoga. However, they are missing a fundamental part of Sikhism in that analysis. Meditation and naam jaap are vital to reaching the gates of God in Sikhism. The balance of Miri Piri ensured by Guru Hargohind Singh Ji made a profound impact on the physical upkeep of the body. Spiritually, socially, mentally, and physically one must remain balanced.
Exercise releases endorphins which are just as powerful as many anti-depressants prescribed by doctors. In the book, Spark, Dr. John Ratey expands on amazing research showing how the brain is directly affected by exercise. Memory is increased, mental strain lessened, stress decreased, and neurological pathways strengthened. Exercise acts as a fertilizer to create new branches and strengthen old ones in the brain. In addition with all the mental benefits the physical ones are apparent and well known. Now combine exercise with mental discipline and you get yoga. Whether the person takes it spiritually or religiously is solely up to them, but the benefits are undeniable and should not be tossed aside with misconception and ignorance.
One Sikh cannot tell another that jogging or cardiovascular exercise is not apart of the Sikh religion or philosophy prescribed by the Gurus, and in the same way one Sikh cannot tell another that yoga is not a part of Sikhism. Both induce better health and have only positive effects on the body. Hence, yoga is a great vehicle to get in shape physically and mentally and should be given a chance and practiced with spirituality in mind.
Rick Ross has created an internet site where he cites the danger of various cults, and the 3HO is one of his “concerns.” Rick Ross himself has had a rocky life and has been arrested, sued, and indicted for many false accusations causing him to file bankruptcy in his latter career. Although these statements about the man may be personal, it is important to get his perspective of who he is and what he has been through to see where he is coming from. His advocation against “cults” began after his own religion, Judaism, was influenced by a church and many converted out of it. He felt that he needed to stop the church, and hence began his short lived career of “intervention.” Perhaps his narrow-mindedness can be found in his fear of losing what he finds himself so close to – his faith Judaism.
Rick Ross assumes many things about the 3HO organization, but has done very little to hinder the Sikh lifestyle in America. The attack leveled against the organization is pointed more strongly at Sikhism than the organization himself. His misunderstanding of the Sikh faith has skewed his perspective on what Sikhism is all about. It is not simply a religion, instead Sikhism is an intense voyage of experience lived through a discipline lifestyle. Sikhs believe in destroying the ego while surrendering to a merciful God who has created the entire Universe with love, compassion, honesty, and humility. Sikhs believe in prayer, mediation, faith, and One God above all. Sikhs believe in raising a family, and living in the world of possession with a great sense of detachment. Sikhs believe that the Khalsa is an order of brotherhood where Truth is to be upheld by justice. Sikhs are seekers of truth that walk a lonely path, not seeking approval by all, but only of the one and only Lord of all. Sikhism is open for all who are trying to find themselves within themselves. God = Truth.
A letter from John Smith of the Atheist Society expresses the universal appeal of Sikhism:
“ Dear Ali, please help us. We were very impressed with your website and agreed that religion in general is no longer needed, we can all be humanistic and live in peace and harmony. We are in the process of making a website which will hopefully help to destroy the religious doctrines which divide humanity. We were doing great with knocking out Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Baha’i, even Buddhism but we have gotten very stuck with Sikhism. This religion is (to put it nicely) “a big pain in the <admin-profanity filter activated>” (Please pardon the language) We have only found one site which tries (very poorly) to argue that even this religion is not needed, but the argument is irrational and very unscientific unlike the very rational arguments you use.
When we read the following from your website, we found what you said to be amazingly interesting: “Doubt Everything Find Your Own Light.” “Last Words Dear friend, if you look for meaning in life, don’t look for it in religions; don’t go from one cult to another or from one guru to the next. You can expend all your life or look for eternity and will find nothing but disappointment and disillusionment. Look instead in service to humanity. You will find “meaning” in your love for other human beings. You can experience God when you help someone who needs your help. The only truth that counts is the love that we have for each other. This is absolute and real. The rest is mirage, fancies of human imagination and fallacies of our own making.” By Ali Sina Why is this interesting? Because we found this religion of Sikhism to be in agreement with you! This is why we have a problem. We tried to look at their holy text (Adi Granth) but didnt find the usual absurdities we found in the other religious books. In fact its refreshingly inspiring and very good!? Maybe you can have some better luck.
We tried to visit a couple of websites and got more of a shock. Did you know that they believed in Democracy, freedom of speech, choice, expression, freedom of religion, pluralism, human rights, equality between men and women, equality of all people regardless of race, religion, caste, creed, status etc. 300 years before the existance of the USA! Theirs is the only religion which says in their religious scriptures that women are equal in every respect to men. They even had women soldiers leading armies in to battle against “you know who” (The usual suspects – Muslims!) Their history is a proud one, they fought in both World Wars. Even Hitler praised them for their bravery and Aryan heritage! Dear Ali, this religion is hard for us to try and criticise but you are an expert and may find some faults overlooked by us. In their holy book, there is a round earth, water is made from chemical elements, there is even mention of the evoution process, big bang and life on other planets! This is pretty crazy and amazing stuff, who would have thought that these New York taxi drivers (There are lots of Sikh taxi drivers in NY) would have such an amzing faith? We read up some information of what Bertrand Russell had to say about Sikhism, this is the man who destroyed Christianity (same applies to Islam and Judaism) and exposed its absurdities, but even this great man got stuck when it came to Sikhism! In fact he gave up and said “that if some lucky men survive the onslaught of the third world war of atomic and hydrogen bombs, then the Sikh religion will be the only means of guiding them. Russell was asked that he was talking about the third world war, but isn’t this religion capable of guiding mankind before the third world war? In reply, Russell said, “Yes, it has the capability, but the Sikhs have not brought out in the broad daylight, the splendid doctrines of this religion which has come into existence for the benefit of the entire mankind. This is their greatest sin and the Sikhs cannot be freed of it.”
Please bear in mind that Bertrand Russell was a great philosopher and free thinker. We have been trying for weeks now to find a way to fairly and rationally criticize and find fault with this religion but have failed. We even found out that there are many people converting to this religion in the USA and Europe as well as Russia (Mostly well educated and affluent white people). We tried to find some of their literature and see what kind of claims they make, but unfortunatley they have no missionary material as they do not have missionsaries! People become Sikh by learning usually by chance or by coming in to contact with them. They are currently the 5th biggest religion in the world and growing quite fast in the west and Russia. Please help us as we are stuck, to give you an example of they are all about we found the following websites: http://www.sikhnet.com (This is a pretty good site and helpful) http://www.hope.at/sikhism (This site is very easy to follow, check it out, they have a Womans section and a Martyrs section, it looks like that you are not the only one trying to expose the falseness of Islam, Sikhs scholars did it hundreds of years ago and got killed for it!) http://www.sikhs.org (This is the site that was on CNN when Sikhs in the USA were mistaken for Arabs and Middle Easterners and were attacked by mindless morons)
Please help us out, we cant make our website about religion being the cause of war and disharmony when we have this one and only religion which makes a hell of a lot of sense! lol (I thought Atheism had all the answers but were kind of stuck now.) We look forward to hearing from you, we respect your great views and want to promote them to everyone, thank you for your time, take care.
Dr. John Smith ”
Those who do not understand the basic tenets of the Sikh lifestyle and perspective cannot try to expose what they know nothing of. This is exactly what happened with Rick Ross and his blind-sighted plunge into defeating something that was different. These white people look different with turbans and beards. They get an overflow of energy from this yoga and chanting, so something must be wrong. There must be some kind of trance that is changing these people in such dramatic ways. Different does not mean wrong or weird, because to me difference is beautiful. In the Guru Granth Sahib, the Guru compares the religions and philosophies of the world to a gorgeous and vibrant garden. Each flower bringing uniqueness and beauty.
Some find so much happiness that others begin questioning how and why. Some find so much faith and love in God that people ask who has changed them into a different person. Some fall in love so much with life and surrender to His will that people ask if they were manipulated. Some find another path to lead them, so people ask if they were converted. Are we as humanity so limited that we fear for change in our own lives, but even more in the lives of those around us. Why can’t people be happy if people have found their happiness elsewhere. All paths lead to the One God, so what is there to fear.
Be open. love life. Accept Others. I believe the 3HO organization put it right when they came up with “Healthy, Holy, Happy” Its a great motto for a great life.
Those who do not understand the path will mock it, and call it oppressive to free thinking. They love their ego too much to see how it is suffocating their real soul which is infinite beyond life and death. Yogi Bhajan said that people do not rebel against religious institutions, but instead they rebel against self discipline in their lives. Religion gives us that self discipline, and those who cannot sit with themselves and realize this, run from religion outwardly but from themselves inwardly. Yogi Bhajan also said that religion is not for everybody, but it is for anybody. We all awaken at our own times in life, and we will be on different levels when we do. We all will march together toward the light as ONE.
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